Any stockman worth his salt recognizes that the changing of the seasons brings a whole new set of challenges to the farm or ranch. This is especially true during the winter, when these challenges are accompanied by snow and ice. Feeding livestock like sheep and goats during the winter, and keeping them at their optimum performance level, is a challenge that can be overcome by introducing a supplement to help them get through the cold season. By feeding a supplement, “the animal’s overall health will be improved,” said Shea Barber, Regional Sales Manager for SmartLic Supplements in South Dakota and Feed in a Drum Supplements in Oklahoma.
Goats
Goats are known for their preference to eat brush/browse such as multiflora rose, wild raspberries and poison ivy. While some types of browse last into the winter months, goats will do well with some added supplementation in their diet. “Producers should provide supplemental protein to improve the digestibility of what animals are being fed,” Barber said. This is especially true for goats that may have access to low-quality forage during the winter. There are a vast number of supplements on the market to aid in this process. Hard cooked tubs (tubs filled with a supplemental substance with the consistency of peanut brittle) hold up to winter weather and moisture very well, which enhances the efficiency of the product. Hard cooked tubs like Feed in a Drum Goat 20 N provide the herd with vitamins, minerals and protein, while also supplying fermentable carbohydrates that optimize rumen fermentation. “It has to be licked to receive the benefits, which leads to consumption in trace amounts and better utilization of the product,” said Barber.
Some goat producers prefer a designated mineral supplement for their small ruminant herds. Ellen Dorsey, owner of Dill’s, A Little Goat Farm in Chelsea, Okla., said that loose mineral specifically formulated for goats is the best option for her program. “I mix it right into their feed so they have to eat it,” she said. Still other producers supplement with natural products. Lesley and Barry Million, owners of Terrell Creek Farm, an Animal Welfare Approved dairy goat farm in Fordland, Mo., choose to use several different kinds of herbs in their supplement program; “Some are fed weekly to control parasites and some are used as needed for other issues (immune boosting, anti-bacterial or anti-fungal),” Lesley said. Supplemental herbs fed at Terrell Creek Farm include black walnut hulls, garlic, ginger, pumpkin seed, fennel, dandelion, oat straw, apple cider vinegar, kelp and many others. Lesley also noted that goats require high amounts of copper in their diets.
Sheep
Sheep oftentimes prefer pasture over browse, which can be challenging in the winter. Luckily, sheep can greatly benefit from supplements too. Supplementing your sheep “leads to better offspring and milk production, and improves immune function,” Barber noted. SmartLic offers a hard cooked tub specifically formulated for sheep and lambs with low amounts of copper (excess amounts of copper can kill sheep). The tub also promotes co-mingling within the sheep herd. Sheep can also be supplemented with other forages if you feel that your pasture is inadequate – alfalfa hay or alfalfa in chopped, cubed or pelleted forms makes a good high-protein supplement. If your farm does well with growing fescue, you might want to consider supplementing your sheep with stockpiled fescue during the cold months. “Winter stockpiled fescue is a safety net for many nutritional needs,” suggested Eldon Cole, livestock specialist for the University of Missouri Extension.
